Experian 2016 Annual Report Download - page 27

25
40.00USc
Full year dividend
US$4.6bn
Revenue
Highlights 2016
US$972m
Total shareholder
returns
6%
CO2e reduction
105%
Cash flow conversion
Strong and effective governance
Effective corporate governance, the
oversight of which is the responsibility of
the Board under my leadership, defines the
framework within which we develop our
strategy. It also allows us to manage any
challenges the Group may face, to monitor
our performance and to manage existing
and emerging risks, all of which are critical
for our long-term success.
Two key governance focus areas for the
Board and its committees during the year
were the information security incident in
North America and the conclusion of the
audit tender process. You can read later in
the Corporate governance report a more
in-depth update on these activities.
There were some Board changes during
the year, including the appointment of
Luiz Fleury, whose knowledge of the
Brazilian market will greatly support our
efforts in a very important jurisdiction for
Experian. Jan Babiak resigned and Fabiola
Arredondo stepped down as non-executive
directors. As previously announced, Judith
Sprieser will step down as a non-executive
director at the conclusion of our annual
general meeting in July, following six years’
service on the Board. We again thank them
for their extremely valuable contributions.
Creating shared value
Our business prospers when we invest
in innovation with the power to change
people’s lives and create stronger
communities.
Having a financial identity is vital to
unlocking fair and affordable access to
essential services. Without one, people
and small businesses are unable to show
that they can repay credit. This means
they cannot get loans or are only offered
services at high interest rates. Our
products enable clients to immediately
check the identity of new customers. We
produce millions of credit reports a day
around the world, not only protecting
businesses from fraud, but also helping
them to make informed lending decisions.
In some countries, the lack of public
records makes it even harder for people
to prove who they are and show their
financial history. We look at new ways to
help people build up a financial identity and
profile that can be included in mainstream
credit bureaux; from uses of alternative
data mentioned previously, through to our
software systems that connect people to
important social and financial services for
the first time.
Along with our core products and services,
our social innovation programme invests
in developing products that tackle
the inequalities facing people outside
mainstream finance. Since launching the
global programme three years ago, our new
social innovation products and services
have helped 5.4 million more people get
vital access to essential services. Our
original aim was to help an additional
5 million people by the end of 2018, making
it all the more satisfying to achieve this
milestone two years ahead of schedule.
Nothing ever stands still at Experian and
we look forward to helping a great many
more people through our award-winning
programme over the years to come.
We also continued to reduce our
environmental impact, with a
corresponding benefit to business
efficiency. Initiatives to cut our energy use
and business travel and to divert more
waste from landfill all contributed.
Our shared vision
Every day, we put the power of data into the
hands of millions of people and businesses;
to help them understand it, make the most
of it and act on it. We recognise that the
positive difference we make to people’s
lives is a powerful one, and made only
possible by the collective effort of 17,000
exceptionally talented people at Experian.
It is their focus, passion and commitment
that drives our progress.
Strategic report •Chairman’s statement